Only 15 stocks announced last week to hike dividends. The average dividend growth amounts to 26.37 percent. Two big names are on the list. They are Philip Morris and Franklin Resources. The biggest dividend increases come from Axiall, Royal Caribbean and Sasol. All three plan to more than double dividends.

It’s good to see that the dividend growth goes into a next round. Dividend growth shows that the management team is optimistic about the company’s future and they like to give money back to shareholders they don’t need in this environment.

Here are the biggest dividend growth stocks from the past week:

Philip Morris International (PM) has a market capitalization of $142.08 billion. The company employs 87,100 people, generates revenue of $77.393 billion and has a net income of $9.154 billion. Philip Morris International’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $14.827 billion. The EBITDA margin is 19.16 percent (the operating margin is 17.89 percent and the net profit margin 11.83 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 60.63 percent of Philip Morris International’s assets. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.16. Last fiscal year, Philip Morris International paid $3.24 in the form of dividends to shareholders. PM raised dividends by 10.6 percent. The current dividend hike was the 6th annual without interruption.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 17.03, the P/S ratio is 1.84 and the P/B ratio is finally not calculable. The dividend yield amounts to 4.28 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.85.

Franklin Resources (BEN) has a market capitalization of $30.97 billion. The company employs 9,000 people, generates revenue of $7.101 billion and has a net income of $1.915 billion. Franklin Resources’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2.593 billion. The EBITDA margin is 36.53 percent (the operating margin is 35.42 percent and the net profit margin 26.98 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 18.83 percent of Franklin Resources’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 30.18 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 21.66 percent was realized by Franklin Resources. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.33. Last fiscal year, Franklin Resources paid $0.36 in the form of dividends to shareholders. BEN raised dividends by 3.4 percent. The current dividend hike was the 33th annual without interruption. BEN is also a Dividend Aristocrat.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 14.56, the P/S ratio is 4.36 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.36. The dividend yield amounts to 0.82 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 1.54.

Sasol (SSL) has a market capitalization of $33.07 billion. The company employs 34,857 people, generates revenue of $18.264 billion and has a net income of $2.738 billion. Sasol’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $5.215 billion. The EBITDA margin is 28.55 percent (the operating margin is 22.41 percent and the net profit margin 15.00 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 9.94 percent of Sasol’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 16.58 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 19.12 percent was realized by Sasol. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $4.34. Last fiscal year, Sasol paid $1.91 in the form of dividends to shareholders. SSL raised dividends by 115.2 percent.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 11.25, the P/S ratio is 1.74 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.19. The dividend yield amounts to 4.00 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 1.33.

American Tower (AMT) has a market capitalization of $29.12 billion. The company employs 2,432 people, generates revenue of $2.875 billion and has a net income of $593.99 million. American Tower’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1.798 billion. The EBITDA margin is 62.53 percent (the operating margin is 38.92 percent and the net profit margin 20.65 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt represents 62.13 percent of American Tower’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 244.98 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 18.58 percent was realized by American Tower. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.60. Last fiscal year, American Tower paid $0.90 in the form of dividends to shareholders. PM raised dividends by 3.7 percent.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 46.11, the P/S ratio is 10.12 and the P/B ratio is finally 8.15. The dividend yield amounts to 1.52 percent and the beta ratio has a value of 0.41.

Take a closer look at the full table of stocks with recent dividend hikes. The average dividend growth amounts to 26.37 percent and the average dividend yield amounts to 2.88 percent. Stocks from the sheet are valuated with a P/E ratio of 25.36. The average P/S ratio is 4.58 and P/B 2.13.

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